How Much Is a Ton of Asphalt?
A ton of dense-graded hot mix asphalt costs $80 to $200 in the United States in 2026, with a national average of about $130 per ton at the plant gate. Delivery adds $6 to $14 per ton within 20 miles.
The short answer
A ton of dense-graded hot mix asphalt costs $80 to $200 in the United States in 2026, with a national average of about $130 per ton at the plant gate. Delivery adds $6 to $14 per ton within 20 miles.
What a ton of asphalt gets you
One ton of dense-graded hot mix has a volume of about 13.79 cubic feet, or 0.511 cubic yards. Spread at 2 inches compacted it covers roughly 81 square feet — about a 9 × 9 ft square. At 3 inches it covers 54 square feet, and at 4 inches, 40 square feet.
In practical terms, a single-car driveway of 300 square feet at 3 inches needs about 6 tons, so roughly $780 of material at the national average.
Why the price varies so much
Haul distance dominates everything else. Hot mix has to reach the site above about 250 °F, which limits a plant to roughly an hour's radius. If there are three plants within range of your site, you get a competitive price. If there is one, forty miles away, you do not.
After that: the price of liquid bitumen, which is 25–35% of the mix cost and tracks crude oil; the season, with peak pricing in June and July; local aggregate availability; and order size, with a small-load surcharge below about 5 tons.
Price by region
| US region | States | Material $/ton | Installed $/sq ft |
|---|---|---|---|
| New England | CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT | $115–$205 | $4.10–$7.60 |
| Mid-Atlantic | NJ, NY, PA | $110–$195 | $3.90–$7.20 |
| South Atlantic | DE, DC, FL, GA, MD, NC, SC, VA, WV | $85–$160 | $3.10–$5.90 |
| East North Central | IL, IN, MI, OH, WI | $90–$170 | $3.30–$6.20 |
| West North Central | IA, KS, MN, MO, NE, ND, SD | $85–$155 | $3.00–$5.70 |
| East South Central | AL, KY, MS, TN | $80–$150 | $2.90–$5.50 |
| West South Central | AR, LA, OK, TX | $80–$155 | $2.90–$5.60 |
| Mountain | AZ, CO, ID, MT, NV, NM, UT, WY | $95–$180 | $3.50–$6.60 |
| Pacific | CA, OR, WA | $120–$210 | $4.30–$7.90 |
| Alaska & Hawaii | AK, HI | $165–$300 | $6.00–$11.00 |
Cheaper alternatives
Recycled asphalt millings cost $10 to $40 per ton — a fraction of fresh hot mix. They compact into a firm, dark surface suitable for rural driveways, yards and base layers, though they never match hot mix for finish quality and cannot be sealed or striped.
What a ton of asphalt weighs
A US short ton is 2,000 pounds, which is 907.2 kilograms. A metric tonne is 1,000 kilograms or 2,204.6 pounds — about 10% heavier. US, Canadian and Philippine suppliers quote short tons; almost everywhere else quotes tonnes. Confusing the two on a large order is a 10% costing error.
Calculate it yourself
Related calculators and guides
Tonnage calculator
Full project tonnage.
Price per ton
2026 pricing.
How to calculate
The method in full.